CBS

● By Cody Benjamin
For a team that's been without a regular starting quarterback since last October, the Minnesota Vikings are one of the most intriguing clubs of the 2024 NFL offseason. Fresh off a breakup with longtime captain Kirk Cousins, the NFC North contenders approach April's draft in search of a new face of the franchise. And not only that, but they've got the ammo to shake up the first round of the event, owning a pair of Day 1 picks thanks to a trade with the Houston Texans. What will Minnesota do next? Quarterback is the obvious first step. While Sam Darnold is in tow on a one-year deal, giving coach Kevin O'Connell an experienced option under center, he registers more as a fallback plan, at least for the long term. The question is, can the Vikings afford to sit tight at No. 11 overall, their first pick in the draft, and get a worthwhile successor? Odds are they'll need to move up if they want any shot at a consensus top prospect, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah surely knows it, hence the acquisition of a second first-rounder -- prime trade-chip material.